HIGHTSTOWN: Watershed group wants to work with borough

By Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
   HIGHSTOWN — The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association wants to partner with the borough to develop a plan to better protect water quality and the local environment.
   Association officials have proposed that the borough form a joint commission with the association to review municipal ordinances and environmental conditions. The goal would be to create a report to guide the local government on water-protection issues.
   Joan McGee, a policy specialist with Stony Brook-Millstone, said the study would be completely funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
   She said similar projects have already been done, or are scheduled to be done in 22 of the 26 communities in the watershed. She said East Windsor went through the process in 2003.
   ”We would look forward to a partnership with Hightstown in order to protect natural resources that are very valuable to the town and very valuable to the area,” Ms. McGee said.
   Ms. McGee said the commission would likely be made up of a Borough Council member, an Environmental Commission member, a Planning Board member and someone from the borough administration, along with representatives from the Watershed Association.
   Ms. McGee said the result would be suggestions for water protections, including model ordinances and strategies that similar communities had employed.
   ”We make recommendations, and the council can agree or disagree,” she said.
   Ms. McGee said that if the council approves a resolution to form the partnership, the report could be completed by the end of the year.
   She presented the plan to the Borough Council on March 16. Ms. McGee said she has been in contact with Councilwoman Isabel McGinty since then, but has not received definite word on the partnership.